a midway bikelog

To celebrate the end of summer riding (not that it’s the end of the cycling season by any means), 4 friends and i took a leisurely ride from St. Paul to Prescott, Wisconsin for a little lunch, then home again, a 65-mile beer-and-burger run. Priorities!

Here’s the route (thanks to @truetone for entering this!)

I know, i’m not a huge fan of mapmyride either, what with all the ads. I would much rather use Bikely, but alas they seem to be pretty much inaccessible nowadays. Sad to lose a good site like that. Anyway. Moving along.

A few route notes, mostly for my own reference later. It’s not a good singlespeed route, with 3 good climbs and rolling hills that work best with gearing. We headed out along Summit Ave, then through downtown to Shepherd/Warner road and Pt. Douglas road. It’s a good thoroughfare for getting out of town to the south/east, a mix of low traffic roads and trails. Just before 494, turn off to Bailey road for the first big climb. At the top, we went straight on Bailey, which is long and straight and not all that scenic, but otherwise pleasant to ride.

At the town of Afton, we are undeterred by the offerings of pie and rest and forge on to the 3 climbs of St. Croix trail. It’s a pretty route, but practically no shoulders, best ridden on low-traffic times. Today, with the holiday weekend and spectacular weather, it was full of Harleys and Corvettes out for a spin.

In Prescott, we’re all sweaty and hungry and thirsty and seek out the Boxcar (cafe? pub?) downtown. It’s a really nice little spot there, great sandwiches and beer selection. A Rush River ale and New Glarus Fat Squirrel and juicy bluecy. Yum. It’s also Wisconsin, which reminds me that there are still places where people smoke in bars. Bleah.

After lunch, a short stint along hwy 61, which is busy but with wide shoulders, and we’re soon on Manning then Lehigh Road. Lehigh to Military road is a lovely and rural stretch of road; scenic, with nice rideable shoulders. Back down the big hill after rejoining Bailey, we head across the 494 bridge and hook up with the new-to-me South St. Paul Regional trail. That trail connects nicely with Concord Ave, which is probably the best tour of mexican culture in South St. Paul, (El Burrito Mercado! etc.) and on through downtown to home.